{{short description|Australian politician (born 1948)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Brian Burston | honorific_suffix = | image = Brian_Burston.jpg | alt = | caption = | office = Leader of One Nation NSW | majority = | term_start = {{start date|df=yes|2010|03|31}} | term_end = {{end date|df=yes|2018|06|17}} | predecessor = Judith Newson | successor = Mark Latham | office1 = Party Whip of Pauline Hanson's One Nation in the Senate | majority1 = | term_start1 = {{start date|df=yes|2016|08|30}} | term_end1 = {{end date|df=yes|2018|05|24}} | successor1 = Peter Georgiou | office2 = Senator for New South Wales | majority2 = | term_start2 = {{start date|df=yes|2016|07|02}} | term_end2 = {{end date|df=yes|2019|06|30}} | office3 = Leader of the United Australia Party<br />in the Senate | term_start3 = {{start date|df=yes|2018|06|18}} | term_end3 = {{end date|df=yes|2019|06|30}} | leader3 = Clive Palmer | predecessor3 = Glenn Lazarus | successor3 = Ralph Babet | office4 = Deputy Leader of Pauline's United Australia Party | term_start4 = {{start date|df=yes|2007|05|24}} | term_end4 = {{end date|df=yes|2010|03|31}} | leader4 = Pauline Hanson | predecessor4 = ''Party created'' | successor4 = ''Party dissolved'' | office5 = National Director of One Nation | term_start5 = {{start date|df=yes|2000|10|04}} | term_end5 = {{end date|df=yes|2002|08|05}}<br />Alongside David Ettridge | leader5 = John Fischer | predecessor5 = David Oldfield | successor5 = Ian Nelson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|25 February 1948}} | birth_place = Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | death_place = | party = United Australia (since 2018) | other_party = One Nation NSW (2000–2004)<br />Pauline's UAP (2007–2010)<br />One Nation (1997–2000; 2010–2018) | education = Cessnock High School | alma_mater = Hunter Institute of TAFE<br />Sydney Institute of TAFE<br />Sydney Teachers' College | occupation = Boilermaker<br/>Draftsman<br/>Politician }}
'''Brian Burston''' (born 25 February 1948) is a former Australian politician. He was a Senator for New South Wales from 2016 to 2019, originally representing One Nation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://vtr.aec.gov.au/SenateResultsMenu-20499.htm |title=Senate results – AEC tally room |date=4 August 2016 |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=4 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803074259/http://vtr.aec.gov.au/SenateResultsMenu-20499.htm |archive-date=3 August 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> After falling out with party leader Pauline Hanson over company tax cuts, Burston left One Nation and joined businessman Clive Palmer's newly relaunched United Australia Party. Palmer announced Burston as the new parliamentary leader of the party on 18 June 2018, but Burston failed to win re-election at the 2019 federal election.<ref name="Palmer"/>
==Early life== Burston was born and grew up in Cessnock, New South Wales. He started an apprenticeship as a boilermaker with BHP when he was 15. He has taught at TAFE NSW, trained TAFE teachers at Newcastle University and worked as a contract draftsman. He was employed at the former Newcastle Teachers College.
He has been a councillor on Cessnock City Council. He married at the age of 22, had three children and later divorced. He married his second wife, a teacher named Rosie, in 2008. Their home overlooks Lake Macquarie.<ref name="SMH">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/meet-brian-burston-one-nations-power-behind-the-throne-20160805-gqm6cx.html |title=Meet Brian Burston: One Nation's power behind the throne |date=6 August 2016 |first=Damien |last=Murphy |access-date=10 August 2016 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>
Burston became a member of Pauline Hanson's One Nation soon after its inception.<ref>{{cite web |title=One Nation Candidates |url=http://www.onenation.com.au/candidates/brianburston |publisher=Pauline Hanson's One Nation |access-date=2019-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603054720/http://www.onenation.com.au/candidates/brianburston |archive-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> He is a former National Director of One Nation, having served alongside David Ettridge. In concert with the overthrow and imprisonment of Pauline Hanson, Burston left Pauline Hanson's One Nation and joined One Nation NSW, a splinter group of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, founded and led by David Oldfield. After Oldfield abandoned One Nation NSW, Burston rejoined Pauline Hanson's One Nation.
==Senator (2016–2019)== After Burston was elected to the Senate at the 2016 federal election, he was elected as One Nation's party whip.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2Fcd63b390-a3f0-48f9-b492-5960a591d967%2F0034%22 |title=PARTY OFFICE HOLDERS: Pauline Hanson's One Nation |publisher=ParlInfo |date=2016-08-30 |access-date=2018-06-04}}</ref>
In his maiden speech to parliament, Burston warned that large-scale immigration was undermining social cohesion, placing pressure on infrastructure and housing affordability and increasing crime in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F7a902cfa-f2c8-48d1-9bf0-f8510b63f4be%2F0124%22 |title=First Speech |publisher=Parliament of Australia |date=2016-10-11 |access-date=2018-06-04}}</ref> He also criticised "aggressive multiculturalism", stating: <blockquote>It seems that every group pride is promoted in the media and schools except for ours, the nation's. The ABC long ago abandoned any semblance of patriotism, or even balance. Other taxpayer-funded media – SBS and NITV – serve immigrants and Indigenous Australians. The national flag is often ignored or dishonoured in schools, while multiculturalism and indigenous issues are now part of the curriculum. The majority of students are not supported in their Anglo-Australian identity, but are made to feel guilty for supposed historical injustices committed by their ancestors.</blockquote>
Burston is a public opponent of same-sex marriage, and was one of twelve senators who voted against what became the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/samesex-marriage-bill-set-to-pass-the-senate/news-story/77e3a18b6f990ee542a96d9e75ff0c5d |title=Senate passes same-sex marriage bill |newspaper=News.com.au |publisher=News Limited |date=29 November 2017 |access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref> In 2017, he was one of ten senators to vote in favour of Cory Bernardi's motion to ban gender-selective abortion. It was defeated by ten votes to 36.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2017-11-16/2 |title=Motions - Abortion - Gender grounds |publisher=They Vote For You |date=2017-11-16 |access-date=2018-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-16/bernardi-making-provocative-motions-hanson-young-fires-up/9158076 |title=Cory Bernardi is using provocative motions to make ideological points in the Senate |work=ABC News |date=2017-11-16 |access-date=2018-06-04}}</ref>
In May 2018, Burston announced he would support the Turnbull government's proposed corporate tax cuts, a move that contradicted One Nation policy. He was soon demoted from the role of party whip,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-24/brian-burston-dumped-as-one-nation-whip/9796970 |title=Former One Nation whip says he won't 'have a dummy spit' after being demoted by Pauline Hanson |first=Caitlyn |last=Gribbin |date=24 May 2018 |work=ABC News |access-date=25 May 2018}}</ref> and reportedly attempted to leave One Nation for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-31/pauline-hanson-fights-back-tears-brian-burston-one-nation/9822456 |title=Pauline Hanson fights tears on national television, claims One Nation senator Brian Burston has tried to defect |work=ABC News |date=2018-05-31 |access-date=2018-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pauline-hanson-to-lose-self-serving-senator-after-company-tax-row-20180531-p4zirm.html |title=Pauline Hanson to lose 'self-serving' senator after company tax row |publisher=Smh.com.au |date=2018-05-31 |access-date=2018-06-04}}</ref> On 18 June 2018, he told the Senate he had resigned from One Nation to sit as an independent,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/one-nation-senator-brian-burston-quits-after-pauline-hanson-feud/9868226 |title=One Nation senator Brian Burston quits party after prolonged feud with Pauline Hanson |date=14 June 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=14 June 2018 }}</ref> but later that day he announced that he would join Clive Palmer's United Australia Party, as party leader.<ref name="Palmer">{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-18/brian-burston-will-run-for-clive-palmers-party-next-election/9879984 |title=Brian Burston joins Clive Palmer's United Australia Party as Senate leader |date=18 June 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=18 June 2018 |first=Caitlyn |last=Gribbin |work=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Crowe |first1=David |title=Democracy for sale: what did Clive Palmer get for his $50m-plus? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/democracy-for-sale-what-did-clive-palmer-get-for-his-50m-plus-20191024-p533vv.html |access-date=2019-10-25 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2019-10-25}}</ref> He became part of the economically conservative voting bloc formed by crossbench Senators David Leyonhjelm, Cory Bernardi and Fraser Anning.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |title=The tax cut battle explained in less than two minutes |date=18 June 2018 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-tax-cut-battle-explained-in-less-than-two-minutes-20180618-p4zm52.html}}</ref>
In February 2019, Burston accused fellow Party Leader and Senator Pauline Hanson of sexual harassment, in an incident which occurred in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-13/burston-levels-sexual-harassment-allegations-at-pauline-hanson/10809710|title=Brian Burston levels sexual harassment allegations at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson|publisher=ABC.net|access-date=14 February 2019|date=14 February 2019}}</ref> Burston was defeated at the 2019 federal election.<ref name="Burston aph">{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=207807 |name=Senator Brian Burston |access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/brian_burston Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Brian Burston on TheyVoteForYou.org.au]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Burston, Brian}} Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:People from Cessnock, New South Wales Category:One Nation members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Pauline Hanson's One Nation politicians Category:Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales Category:Members of the Australian Senate Category:New South Wales local councillors Category:United Australia Party (2013) politicians Category:Australian politicians who switched parties Category:21st-century Australian politicians